Stretcher with canopy



Feb. 25, 1964 w. J. SCHNELL 3,121,881

, STRETCHER WITH CANOPY Filed May 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.N/LZ/AM J. .Sf/M/EAL W. J. SCHNELL STRETCHER WITH CANOPY Feb. 25, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1961 Ill A Q m R a m M m 0 M M W M a Y 7 Bl dZl ,881 Fatented Feb. 25, l bd 3 121581 STRETHER WKTH CANQPY WilliamJ. Schneli, 178 Bromleigh Road, Stewart Manor, N3. Filed May 15, B63,Ser. No. 12%,826 11 (Ila-Ems. (Chi-82) This invention relates tostretchers, and more particularly to a folding stretcher with a canopyto protect the injured person.

The general object of the present invention is to improve stretchers forthe transport of an injured person. The usual stretcher comprises twolong poles with fabric therebet'ween. Because of its length this isinconvenient or impossible for storage in an ordinary police patrol car.

Moreover, police experience shows that most accidents occur in rainy orstormy weather. There is usually delay waiting for an ambulance. If thevictim is placed on an ordinary stretcher resting onthe street he isunprotected and almost certain to be soaked from beneath and above.

The primary object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoingdifiiculties. One specific object is to provide a stretcher which foldsto dimensions small enough to fit in'an ordinary police car trunk. Afurther object is to provide the stretcher with a canopy which isreadily added to the stretcher after the injured person is placedthereon, and which will protect him against the weather. A furtherobject is to make the said canopy transparent for ready observation ofthe victim, and to make the same foldab-le for compact storage in aspace no bigger than that required for the folded stretcher. Stillanother object is to make the stretcher out of still material, includinga panel which is raised somewhat from the ground when the stretcherrests on the ground.

To accomplish the foregoing objects, and other objects which willhereinafter appear, my invention resides in the stretcher and canopyelements and their relation One to another, as are more particularlydescribed in the following specification. The specification isaccompanied by drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing the stretcher and canopy inextended relation;

FIG. 2 shows the stretcher in folded condition;

FIG. 3 shows the canopy frame in folded condition, the flexible coveringmaterial being omitted for clarity;

PEG. 4 is a fragmentary View explanatory of a modification;

PEG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the stretcher in extended condition;

HQ. 6 is a longitudinal section taken approximately in the plane of theline 66 of PEG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section through one side of thehinge, drawn to larger scale;

PEG. 8 is a transverse section drawn to larger scale, and takenapproximately in the plane of the stepped line 8% of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the canopyframe.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to PEG. 1, thestretcher and canopy combination comprises a frame 12 and panel 14 withhandles 15 projecting longitudinally at the corners thereof. There isalso a canopy which comprises two bows l8 and 2%) together with means tosupport the same in generally upright position at the ends of thestretcher. A flexible material 22 is secured to the bows and extendstherebetween to form a canopy for the stretcher. The bows are detachablysecured to the stretcher, so that the canopy may be added after theinjured person has been placed on the stretcher.

in FIG. 1 the stretcher is shown extended, but when not in use it may befolded in half, as shown in FIG. 2, and the canopy may be folded asshown in EEG. 3. Re-

ferring to FIG. 2, the stretcher is hinged half way between its ends at24, so that it folds in half lengthwise. The stretcher comprises a stiffframe, and a panel 14' thereover. The construction is better shown inH68. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the drawing, the sides 25 of the frame being madeof light metal, say aluminum or magnesium, in channel section. Thesection is most clearly shown in FIG. 8. Cross bars 23 and 39 (FIGS. 5and 6) are provided at the outer and inner ends respectively, and theyspace the sides apart to complete the frame. Additional cross supportsmay be provided, as shown at 3% and 32, to additionally support thepanel 14. The latter is made of sheet aluminum or magnesium of suitablegauge, and it is preferably bent around the sides of the frame, as shownat 34 in FIG. 8. The members 34?" and 32. have their flanges cut away atthe ends so that the flat web alone overlies the main side channels 26.These channels are made of thin metal compared to the side channels 15and the end channels 28 and 3d.

The hinge 24 may be a continuous or piano type hinge, secured to thecross bars or channels 3% as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The channels areupright or edge- !wise, like sides 26, but the channels 3t? are disposedhorizontally, as shown in FIG. 7.

The stretcher is provided with a slidable lock to lock the halvesrigidly in extended relation. In the present case this comprises twoslidable members 36, connected by two cross rods or tubes 38 forsimultaneous movement. The tubes may be received and welded in holes inthe members 35. The tubes serve as convenient handles to move theslidable lock members 36. The slides 36 may be channel shaped, as bestshown at the left of FIG. 8, and are dimensioned to be slidably receivedwithin the main side channels 21; of the stretcher. The slidable lock isbodily movable between a position at one side of the hinge 24 when thestretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge as shownin E88. 5 and 6 when the stretcher is to be used. When being slid to oneside the tubes 33 pass freely and with ample clearance between theflanges of the channels 39' and 3% (see FIG. 7), and beneath the flangesof channel 32.

The canopy comprises two U shaped base members 4% and 42 (FIGS. 1 and 3)having approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length (inthis case two feet wide and three feet long). These base members arehinged end to end, as shown at 44 in P16. 3, so that when extended, asshown in FIG. 1, they form a rectangular canopy base havingsubstantially the dimensions of the stretcher. There is a first bow l8pivo-tally secured at one end of the base, and a second bow 2b pivotallysecured at the other end of the base. These bowsmay be turned to theupright position shown in FIG. 1 when in use, or maybe turned down to aposition collateral of the base when not in use, at which time the baseand bows may be folded as a unit, as shown in PEG. 3. For this purposethe bows preferably fit within the base, as shown.

Referring to FIG. 9, the bow it may be riveted to base 453 by a suitablefastener or rivet shown at 46. A rounded projection may be provided onthe bow at 48, this acting as a detent to hold the bow in erect positionwhen it has been turned up. The resilience may be provided by thetendency of the free ends of the bow to expand against the sides of theframe.

The base of the canopy may be provide with means to lock it in extendedcondition. Such a means is shown in FIG. 3, and consists of a resilientdetent 52 having a projection 54 which snaps releasably into a matingrecess or hole 56. Such a lock may be provided on one or both sides. Itis pulled outward to release it.

The canopy has means to detachably secure it to the stretcher, and inthe present case this consists simply of four short pegs or dowels 5th(FIG. 3) which are re- 3 ceived in mating holes in the stretcher, two ofthese being shown at 54 in FIG. 2. In FIG. 8 a peg St) is shown in itssocket 54.

in FIG. 3 the flexible covering of the canopy has been omitted, in ordernot to conceal the structural parts of the canopy frame. However, itwill be understood that when the frame is folded the fabric folds withthe frame.

In warm climates the fabric is preferably made of a transparent plasticsheet material, and it may be secured to the frame by snap fasteners.This is illustrated in FIG. 8, in which the lower end of the plasticsheet 22 is reinforced by a canvas binding strip 53 provided with snapfasteners 69 which are pressed against and engage mating fastenerelements disposed at intervals along the sides of the canopy base.Similar canvas reinforce or binder strips and fasteners may be providedaround the bows to secure the material to the bows. The fasteners havebeen omitted in most figures of the drawing for simplicity. if desired,permanent attachment of the covering to the frame may be used. In coldclimates a woven fabric cover has the advantage of retaining itsflexibility, whereas plastics material will stiffen.

Referring to FIG. 8, it may be explained that the ends of the cross bars28 are Welded at 29 at the top and bottom flanges, thereby leaving arectangular opening to receive the inner portions or shanks 62 of thehandles 16.

The parts 39 (FIG. 7) are shallow channels disposed horizontally ratherthan vertically, with the vertical flanges cut away at the ends so thatthe web underlies the side channels 26. Similar flat channels 3t) aredisposed on the opposite side, the arrangement being best shown in FIG.7. The flanges of these channels are relatively shallow and leaveadequate space therebetween for passage of the round spacer bars ortubes 38 which connect the slides of the lock, as is best shown in FIG.7. The lower channels 30 are made of heavier material because they arethe ones which receive the hinge 24. The channels 30' are of relativelythin material, as they need only stiffen the panel 14.

The supports 32 intermediate the channels 28 and 30' may resemble thesupports 30', that is, they are shallow channels disposed horizontallywith the ends of the vertical flanges cut away so that the horizontalwebs can overlie and be welded to the top of the side channels. Thethickness of the web is small enough not to affect the overall smoothcoverage of the frame by the sheet aluminum panels 14.

If desired, the canopy may be simplified by using only the end bowswithout the base 42. Such a modification is shown in PEG. 4, in whichthe side frame 7 9 of the stretcher has a socket '72 secured thereto toreceive one end of the bow. It will be understood that there are foursuch sockets '72 on the outer four corners of the stretcher. The lowerends of the bows are inserted downwardly into the sockets, with thecanopy fabric 74 stretched taut therebetween. To remove the canopy, thebows are simply pulled upward, and the canopy is folded by moving thebows together with the fabric therebetween. The edges of the plastic maybe bound by fabric strips 73 and '75, with strip 73 secured to the bow.

in a specific case the channels 26 were two inches high, one inch wide,and inch thick. The end pieces 28 may be made of similar channelmaterial, welded at its ends to the flanges of the side frames 26,thereby leaving rectangular openings for the handles, as shown at 62 inFIG. 8. The support channels 30, 30 and 32 are 1% inches by A2 inch,with the flanges cut off for a distance of one inch at each end tooverlie the side channels, as previously described. The sheet materialor panel may have a thickness of, say 5 inch or less, and is welded inposition by so-called tack welding. The handles may be made of wood ormolded plastic material, or may be molded out of aluminum or magnesium.In the latter case they may be welded to secure them in position, orthey may be drilled and tapped to receive locating screws.

The latter procedure is used with wood or plastics material. It will beunderstood that the weight-bearing load of the handles is taken by thefit of the handles within the channel sides of the frame, and that allthat the screws need do is to locate the handles, rather than to bearthe stretcher load.

The slides 36 of the lock may be two feet long. The channel materialhere is 1 inches high and 34 inch wide, and the two sides are connectedby A2 inch tubing. The cross tubes 38 are located two inches from theends of the slides 36, and are received in holes in the slides, wherethey may be welded in position.

The covering of the canopy preferably is made of heavy duty material. Itis six feet long, two feet high, and two feet wide, and the ends may beleft either open, or closed, or may be left open but with separatedetachable ends provided for use when desired. The edges preferably arereinforced by a strip of canvas provided with snap fastener buttons atsuitable spacing, say every twelve inches for attachment to the bows,and to the base of the canopy frame when a base is used. The canopyframe may be made of channel section material, as shown in FIG. 3, butthe dimension of the section has been exaggerated in FIG. 3 for the sakeof clarity, and it will be understood that in practise the framematerial of the canopy may be and preferably is much smaller indimension than the frame of the stretcher.

It will be understood that the specific dimensions given from time totime in the specification have been given solely by way of example ofthe invention, and are not intended to be in limitation of the same.

It is believed that the construction and method of use of my improvedstretcher and canopy, as well as the advantages thereof, will beapparent from the foregoing detailed description. The stretcher isdurable, and folds in half lengthwise, so that it can be stored in thetrunk of an automobile. When open, the slide lock makes it rigid. It maybe rested on the ground, in which case its upper surface is raised fromthe ground enough to avoid wetting by puddles of water. The canopyprovides a shelter against rain or stormy weather, and it may be appliedfrom above the injured person after he has been placed on the stretcher.This affords important protection, particularly when, as frequentlyoccurs, there is considerable delay waiting for medical aid in stormyweather.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described theinvention in preferred forms, changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention, as sought to be defined in the followingclaims. In the claims the term light metal refers to the use of aluminumor magnesium or other metal which would be equivalently suitable for thepresent purpose.

I claim:

1. A stretcher comprising a stiff frame and panel, said stretcher beinghinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise, handlesprojecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a slidable lock tolock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is to beused, said frame being made of light metal, the sides being of channelsection with the open sides of the channels facing one another, crossbars spacing the same apart and completing the frame to support thepanel, and said lock having side members extending parallel to the sidesof the stretcher, said side members being carried within and beingslidable longitudinally of the stretcher in said channels to a positionat one side of the hinge when the stretcher is to be folded, and aposition straddling the hinge so as to lock the channel sides or". thestretcher in aligned extended relation when the stretcher is to be used.

2. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising astretcher frame with handles projecting longitudinally at the cornersthereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting the body ofa person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising a rectangular canopybase having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bowpivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally securedat the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to eitheran upright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral ofthe base when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bowsand extending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, andmeans to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher, said canopybase being a light frame which is open within its periphery so that thecanopy may be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on thestretcher.

3. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiffstretcher frame with handles projecting longitudinally at the cornersthereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting the body ofa person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising two U-shaped membershaving approximately the width of the stretcher and half its length,means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy basehaving substanti ly the dimension of the stretcher, a first bowpivotally secured at one end of the frame, a second bow pivotallysecured at the other end of the frame, whereby said bows may be turnedto either an upright position when in use or a horizontal positioncollateral of the canopy base when not in use, and whereby said base andbows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible sheet materialsecured to said bows and extending between said bows to form a canopyfor the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to thestretcher when the canopy is extended, said canopy base being a lightframe which is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopymay be bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on thestretcher.

4. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiffstretcher frame and panel with handles projecting longitudinally at thecorners thereof, and means across the stretcher frame for supporting thebody of a person on the stretcher, said canopy comprising two U-shapedmembers having approximately the width of the stretcher and half itslength, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangularcanopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a firstbow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotallysecured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned toeither an upright position when in use or a horizontal positioncollateral of the canopy base when not in use, and whereby said base andbows may be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible transparentplastic sheet material secured to said bows and canopy base andextending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, andmeans to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when bothare extended, said canopy base being a light frail e which is openwithin the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodilyplaced over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

5. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stiffframe and panel, said stretcher being hinged half way between its endsto fold in half lengthwise, handles projecting longitudinally at thefour corners, and a slldable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extendedrelation when the stretcher is to be used, the sides of said frame beingmade of light metal channel section with the open sides of the channelsfacing one another, cross bars spacing the same apart and completing theframe to support the panel, and said lock having side members extendingparallel to the sides of the stretcher, said side members being carriedwithin and being slidable longitudinally of the stretcher in saidchannels to a position at one side of the hinge when the stretcher is tobe folded, and a position straddling the hinge so as to lock the channelsides of the stretcher in aligned extended relation when the stretcheris to be used, said canopy comprising two bows, means to support thebows in upright position at the ends or" the stretcher, a flexible sheetmaterial secured to said bows and extending between said bows to form acanopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably secure the bows to thestretcher when both are extended.

6. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stillframe and panel for supporting a person on the stretcher, said stretcherbeing hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise,handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a lock meansto lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcher is tobe used, said canopy comprising two U shaped members havingapproximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, meanshinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base havingsubstantially the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotallysecured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at theother end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either anupright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of thebase when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may be folded as aunit when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured to said bows andextending between said bows to form a canopy for the stretcher, andmeans to detachably secure the canopy base to the stretcher when bothare extended, said canopy base being a light frame which is open withinthe said U-shaped members, so that the canopy may be bodily placed overor removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

7. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a sti fframe and panel for supporting a person on the stretcher, said stretcherbeing hinged half way between its ends to fold in half lengthwise,handles projecting longitudinally at the four corners, and a slidableloci; to lock the halves rigidly in extended relation when the stretcheris to be used, the sides of said frame being made of metal in channelsection, and cross bars spacing the same apart and completing the frameto support the panel, said canopy comprising two U shaped members havingapproximately the width of the stretcher and half its length, meanshinging said members end to end to form a rectangular canopy base havingsubstantimly the dimension of the stretcher, a first bow pivotallysecured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotally secured at theother end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned to either anupright position when in use or a horizontal position collateral of thecanopy base when not in use, and whereby said base and bows may befolded as a lllllL when not in use, a flexible sheet material secured tosaid bows and extending between said bows to form a canopy for thestretcher, and means to detachably secure the canopy base to thestretcher when both are extended, said canopy base being a light framewhich is open within the said U-shaped members, so that the canopy maybe bodily placed over or removed from a person lying on the stretcher.

8. A stretcher and canopy combination, said stretcher comprising a stillframe and panel, said stretcher being hinged half way betwen its ends tofold in half lengthwise, handles projectin longitudinally at the fourcorners, and a slidable lock to lock the halves rigidly in extendedrelation when the stretcher is to be used, the sides of said frame beingmade of light metal in channel section with the open sides of thechannels facing one another, cross bars spacing the same apart andcompleting the frame to support the panel, and said lock having sidemembers extending parallel to the sides of the stretcher, said sidemembers being carried within and being slidable longitudinally of thestretcher in said channels to a position at one side of the hinge whenthe stretcher is to be folded, and a position straddling the hinge so asto lock the channel sides of the stretcher in aligned extended relationwhen the stretcher is to be used, said canopy comprising two U shapedmembers having approximately the width of the stretcher and half itslength, means hinging said members end to end to form a rectangularcanopy base having substantially the dimension of the stretcher, a firstbow pivotally secured at one end of the base, a second bow pivotallysecured at the other end of the base, whereby said bows may be turned toeither an upright position when in use or a horizontal positioncollateral of the base when not in use, and whereby said base and bowsmay be folded as a unit when not in use, a flexible transparent sheetmaterial secured to said bows and canopy base and extending between saidbows to form a canopy for the stretcher, and means to detachably securethe canopy base to the stretcher when both are extended.

9. A stretcher as defined in claim 1, in which the side members of thelock are of channel section with the open sides of the channels facingoutwardly, and in which there are tubular cross members which fixedlyconnect the side members of the lock to one another, whereby the tubularcross members may be used to help slide the lock longitudinally of thestretcher.

10. A stretcher and canopy combination as defined in claim 5 in whichthere are tubular cross members which fixedly connect the side membersof the lock to one another, whereby the tubular cross members may beused to help slide the lock longitudinally of the stretcher.

11. A stretcher and canopy combination as defined in claim 8, in whichthe side members of the lock are of channel section with the open sidesof the channels facing outwardly, and in which there are tubular crossmembers which fixedly connect the side members of the lock to oneanother, whereby the tubular cross members may be used to help slide thelock longitudinally of the stretcher.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A STRETCHER COMPRISING A STIFF FRAME AND PANEL, SAID STRETCHER BEINGHINGED HALF WAY BETWEEN ITS ENDS TO FOLD IN HALF LENGTHWISE, HANDLESPROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY AT THE FOUR CORNERS, AND A SLIDABLE LOCK TOLOCK THE HALVES RIGIDLY IN EXTENDED RELATION WHEN THE STRETCHER IS TO BEUSED, SAID FRAME BEING MADE OF LIGHT METAL, THE SIDES BEING OF CHANNELSECTION WITH THE OPEN SIDES OF THE CHANNELS FACING ONE ANOTHER, CROSSBARS SPACING THE SAME APART AND COMPLETING THE FRAME TO SUPPORT THEPANEL, AND SAID LOCK HAVING SIDE MEMBERS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE SIDESOF THE STRETCHER, SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING CARRIED WITHIN AND BEINGSLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF THE STRETCHER IN SAID CHANNELS TO A POSITIONAT ONE SIDE OF THE HINGE WHEN THE STRETCHER IS TO BE FOLDED, AND APOSITION STRADDLING THE